WO2020090733A1

WO2020090733A1 - Cleaning method and cleaning device for heating sterilization system

Info

Publication number: WO2020090733A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/042167
Authority: WO
Inventors: 誠司桑野
Original assignee: 大日本印刷株式会社
Priority date: 2018-10-31
Filing date: 2019-10-28
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: CN112867672A; JP2020070067A; EP3875380A1; CN112867672B; US11873203B2; JP6729661B2; EP3875380A4; KR20210087014A; US20210347621A1

Abstract

This cleaning method for a heating sterilization system is provided with: a step in which a fluid comprising a cleaning liquid or a rinsing liquid is made to flow inside the heating sterilization system; a step in which a hot water is supplied to a second stage heating unit (13) to heat a second stage heating unit (13); a step in which the temperature of a fluid at a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the second stage heating unit (13) for the fluid is measured and the temperature of a medium at a medium inlet and a medium outlet of a second stage heating unit for the hot water is measured. On the basis of the fluid temperature at the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the second stage heating unit (13) and the medium temperature at the medium inlet and the medium outlet of the second stage heating unit (13), the total heat transfer coefficient (U value) of heating piping (13a) of the second stage heating unit (13) is obtained and monitored.

Description

Method and apparatus for cleaning heat sterilization system

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning method and a cleaning device for a heat sterilization system that fills a container such as a PET bottle with a beverage (contents).

Aseptic filling systems for filling beverages into containers such as bottles have been known. Such an aseptic filling system includes a heat sterilizer for heating a beverage and a filling machine. The filling machine includes a sterile chamber, and the bottle is filled with the beverage in the sterile chamber.

JP, 2011-255938, A JP, 2015-44593, A Japanese Patent No. 3437942

By the way, after using the heat sterilizer for a predetermined time, the cleaning solution and rinse solution are sequentially supplied into the heat sterilizer to clean the inside.

A cleaning method for such a heat sterilizer is called CIP cleaning (Cleaning In Place) and is widely used. However, at present, no technique has been established for how long the CIP cleaning should be performed, and the CIP cleaning is performed for an unnecessarily long time.
The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and provides a cleaning method and a cleaning device for a heat sterilization system capable of reliably cleaning the inside of the heat sterilization device by performing CIP cleaning for an appropriate time. The purpose is to provide.

The present disclosure is a method for cleaning a heat sterilization system including a heating pipe having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the heating sterilization system including a heating section for heating contents, wherein a fluid containing at least a cleaning liquid is provided in the heat sterilization system. Flowing, heating the heating pipe of the heating section from the outside with a medium, measuring the fluid temperature of the fluid at the fluid inlet and fluid outlet of the heating pipe, and the medium inlet of the heating section and Measuring the medium temperature of the medium at the medium outlet, the fluid temperature of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the heating pipe, and the medium temperature of the medium inlet and the medium outlet of the heating section, the general transmission of the heating pipe. A method of cleaning a heat sterilization system, which comprises a step of obtaining and monitoring a heat coefficient.

The present disclosure is a method for cleaning a heat sterilization system, which terminates cleaning in the heat sterilization system when the overall heat transfer coefficient exceeds a desired value.

The present disclosure is a method for cleaning a heat sterilization system, which determines cleaning conditions for the heat sterilization system based on the overall heat transfer coefficient.

The present disclosure is a cleaning method for a heat sterilization system, in which a plurality of heating sections are arranged and the overall heat transfer coefficient in the heating pipe of the most downstream heating section is monitored.

The present disclosure provides a cleaning apparatus for a heat sterilization system, which includes a heating pipe having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and includes a heating section for heating the contents, and flowing a fluid containing at least a cleaning liquid in the heat sterilization system. A fluid supply part for cleaning the inside of the heat sterilization system, a heating part for heating the heating pipe of the heating section with a medium from the outside, a fluid temperature of the fluid at a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the heating section, A thermometer for measuring the medium temperature of the medium at the medium inlet and the medium outlet of the heating pipe, and a control unit, the control unit, the fluid temperature of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the heating pipe, and the heating section A monitoring unit that obtains and monitors the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heating pipe based on the medium temperature at the medium inlet and the medium outlet. A cleaning device for heat sterilization system having.

The present disclosure is the heating sterilization system cleaning device, wherein the control unit ends the cleaning of the heat sterilization system when the overall heat transfer coefficient exceeds a desired value.

The present disclosure is the cleaning apparatus for the heat sterilization system, wherein the control unit has a cleaning condition determination unit that determines the cleaning conditions for the heat sterilization system based on the overall heat transfer coefficient.

The present disclosure is a cleaning device for a heat sterilization system, in which a plurality of heating sections are arranged, and the control unit monitors the overall heat transfer coefficient in the heating pipe of the most downstream heating section.

According to the present disclosure, the inside of the heat sterilization system can be reliably cleaned only by performing CIP cleaning for an appropriate time.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a heat sterilizer of an aseptic filling system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the aseptic filling system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view showing a hot water line and a cooling water line connected to the second heating unit and the first cooling unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a U value during production in an example using milk coffee as a content. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a U value during CIP cleaning in an example using milk coffee as the content. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a U value during production in an example using black coffee as a content. FIG. 7: is a flowchart which shows the cleaning method of a heat sterilization system. FIG. 8: is a block diagram which shows the control part of a heat sterilization system.

First, the entire aseptic filling system 1A incorporating the heat sterilization system of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the aseptic filling system 1A fills a plastic bottle (also referred to as a container) b with a beverage (also referred to as a content) in an aseptic state.

Such an aseptic filling system 1A includes a brewing device 1, a balance tank 5, a heat sterilization device (also referred to as a heat sterilization system) (UHT) 18, a surge tank 19, a head tank 11, and a beverage, which are sequentially arranged. And a filler (also referred to as a filling machine) 2 including a filling nozzle 2a for aseptically filling the inside of the bottle b.

Of these, the blending device 1 is for blending the ingredients in a desired blending ratio in order to produce, for example, beverages such as milk coffee, black coffee, tea beverages and fruit beverages.

A beverage supply system pipe 7 is connected between the blending device 1, the balance tank 5, the UHT 18, the surge tank 19 and the filling nozzle 2a in the filler 2.

Further, the aseptic filling system 1A is provided with a bottle carrying path for carrying the bottle b to the filler 2 and discharging the bottle b filled with the beverage by the filler 2. The transport path is generally composed of a large number of wheels 20, a gripper 20A arranged around each wheel, and the like.

The filler 2 is a filling machine that fills a large number of bottles b with beverage at high speed, and includes a sterile chamber 3, a plurality of filling nozzles 2 a that are provided in the sterile chamber 3, and fill the bottle b with beverage. A wheel 20 that is provided in the chamber 3 and constitutes a part of the transport path for the bottle b is provided. The wheel 20 is attached to a swivel shaft 21a extending from a support shaft 21 standing upright from the floor of the aseptic filling device. Around the wheel 20, grippers 21A that grip the neck of the bottle b are arranged at a constant pitch. The gripper 21A can rotate in one direction integrally with the wheel 20. Further, the filling nozzle 2a is attached around the wheel 20 at the same pitch as the gripper 20A.

A rotary joint 21b is provided at the upper end of a revolving shaft 21a extending upward from the support shaft 21, and an upper manifold 22 is provided below the rotary joint 21b in the revolving shaft 21a. Further, the part of the swivel shaft 21a from the upper part of the support shaft 21 to the upper manifold 22 is hollow, and the downstream pipe portion 7b of the beverage supply system pipe 7 is connected to the rotary joint 21b. A connecting pipe portion 7c extends between the upper manifold 22 and each filling nozzle 2a.

The wheel 20 rotates at a high speed by the operation of the filler 2, and the bottle b gripped by the gripper 20A is conveyed at a high speed on the conveyance path in synchronization with this movement. When the bottle b comes directly under the nozzle opening at the lower end of the filling nozzle 2a, a fixed amount of beverage is filled in each bottle b one after another.

Further, since the filler 2 is filled with the aseptically processed beverage so that foreign substances such as microorganisms do not enter the aseptically processed bottle b, the entire filler 2 is housed in the aseptic chamber 3 as described above. The aseptic chamber 3 is provided with an inlet and an outlet of the bottle b on the upstream side and the downstream side of the transport path of the bottle b.

Next, the aseptic filling system 1A will be further described. The beverage supply system pipe 7 includes an upstream pipe portion 7a and a downstream pipe portion 7b, and in the upstream pipe portion 7a from the blending device 1 to the surge tank 19, the balance tank 5 is sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side. And a heat sterilizer (UHT (Ultra High-temperature)) 18 and a manifold valve 8 are arranged, and a head tank (buffer tank) 11 is arranged in the downstream side piping portion 7b from the surge tank 19 to the filler 2. .. The head tank 11 does not necessarily have to be arranged.

The UHT 18 includes a first-stage heating unit (first-stage heating section) 12, a second-stage heating unit (second-stage heating section) 13, a holding tube 14, and a first-stage cooling unit (which are provided inside the UHT 18). A first-stage cooling section) 15, a second-stage cooling section (second-stage cooling section) 16, and a third-stage cooling section (third-stage cooling section) 17 are provided. Then, the beverage supplied from the balance tank 5 is sent to the first-stage heating unit 12 and the second-stage heating unit 13 and gradually heated by the first-stage heating unit 12 and the second-stage heating unit 13, and the inside of the holding tube 14 is heated. The temperature is maintained at the target temperature by, and then sent to the first stage cooling unit 15, the second stage cooling unit 16 and the third stage cooling unit 17 to be gradually cooled. The number of stages of the first and second

stage heating units

12 and 13 and the first to third

stage cooling units

15, 16 and 17 may be increased or decreased as necessary.

A return line 6 is provided in the upstream pipe portion 7a of the beverage supply system pipe 7 that reaches the manifold valve 8 via the balance tank 5 and the UHT 18. The return line 6 is provided to add a cleaning liquid when the UHT 18 is subjected to CIP cleaning (CleaningInPlace) and to circulate the balance tank 5, the

heating units

12, 13, and the

cooling units

15, 16, 17. Further, when the liquid amount in the surge tank 19 reaches the upper limit, the balance tank 5 is operated by using the return line 6 without sending the beverage as the product liquid to the surge tank 19 and without stopping the UHT 18. It is also possible to put the beverage back in. Further, the return line 6 is used for performing Sterilizing in Place (SIP). In addition, after the start of product production, the return line 6 is used when the holding tube 14 cannot be sent to the surge tank 19 in order to maintain the necessary pressure so that it can be kept at a high temperature of 100 ° C. or higher. A fluid can be circulated.

Further, in the upstream pipe portion 7a of the beverage supply system pipe 7, a plurality of

thermometers

10, 10a, 10b are arranged at respective points important for UHT operation. The locations where the

thermometers

10, 10a, 10b are arranged are, for example, the outlet of the first stage heating unit 12, the outlet of the second stage heating unit 13, the outlet of the holding tube 14, and the first stage cooling unit 15 in the UHT 18. Outlet, the outlet of the second-stage cooling unit 16, the outlet of the third-stage cooling unit 17, and the portion in front of the manifold valve 8. The

thermometers

10, 10a, and 10b are respectively arranged at these portions. It Then, information on the temperature measured by each of these

thermometers

10, 10a, 10b is transmitted to the control unit 40.

Further, in the beverage supply system pipe 7, the temperature is less likely to rise when heating steam or the like is also supplied to the downstream side pipe part 7b from the surge tank 19 to the inside of the filler 2 via the head tank 11. The thermometer 10 is arranged at each place including the place. As the location where the thermometer 10 is arranged, for example, in the downstream side pipe portion 7b from the surge tank 19 to the filling nozzle 2a, the vicinity of the outlet of the surge tank 19, the position of a bent portion in the middle, etc. are low and steam condenses. Then, there may be mentioned a place where drainage accumulates and the temperature becomes low, near the inlet and near the outlet of the head tank 11. Information on the temperature measured by each of these thermometers 10 is transmitted to the control unit 40.

Next, UHT 18 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the UHT 18 includes a first-stage heating unit 12, a second-stage heating unit 13, a holding tube 14, a first-stage cooling unit 15, a second-stage cooling unit 16, and a second-stage cooling unit 16. It has a three-stage cooling unit 17. Of these, the first-stage heating unit 12 includes heating pipes 12a arranged in five stages, the second-stage heating unit 13 includes heating pipes 13a arranged in five stages, and the first-stage cooling unit 15 includes five stages. The second-stage cooling unit 16 includes the cooling pipes 15a arranged, the second-stage cooling unit 16 includes the cooling pipes 16a arranged in five stages, and the third-stage cooling unit 17 includes the cooling units 17a arranged in three stages.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the second-stage heating unit 13 located at the most downstream of the

heating units

12 and 13 and the first-stage cooling unit 15 located at the most upstream of the cooling

units

15, 16 and 17 are provided. A hot water line 31 for supplying hot water from the first-stage cooling unit 15 to the second-stage heating unit 13 is connected therebetween. Further, a cooling water line 32 for supplying the cooling water from the second stage heating section 13 to the first stage cooling section 15 is connected.

2 and 3, the first-stage heating unit 12, the second-stage heating unit 13, the first-stage cooling unit 15, the second-stage cooling unit 16, and the third-stage cooling unit 17 have a single-stage structure for convenience. It is shown.

Further, the hot water line 31 and the cooling water line 32 connected between the second stage heating unit 13 and the first stage cooling unit 15 constitute a closed circulation line 30. That is, the hot water line 31 is connected to the second stage heating unit 13 and then merges with the cooling water line 32. The cooling water line 32 is connected to the first stage cooling unit 15 and then to the hot water line 31. The hot water line 31 and the cooling water line 32 form a closed line closed from the outside.

Further, the hot water line 31 is provided with a heating steam supply unit 33 for supplying heating steam into the hot water line 31, and the heat flowing in the hot water line 31 is heated by the heating steam supplied from the heating steam supply unit 33. Heat water to high temperature. Further, the hot water line 31 is provided with a pressurizing pump 35.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, between the balance tank 5 and the UHT 18, a pressurizing pump 48 for pressurizing the contents and a flow meter 9 are installed, and further, the first-stage heating unit 12 of the UHT 18 has a first A hot water line 37 for heating the stage heating unit 12 is connected. A cooling water line 38 for cooling the second-stage cooling unit 16 is connected to the second-stage cooling unit 16, and a cooling-water line 39 for cooling the third-stage cooling unit 17 is further provided for the third-stage cooling unit 17. It is connected.

By the way, as described above, the

thermometers

10, 10a, and 10b are installed in a plurality of places in the aseptic filling system 1A, but as shown in FIG. The second-stage heating unit 13 on the most downstream side has a heating pipe 13a, and a thermometer 10a (also referred to as a first thermometer 10a) is installed at an inlet (fluid inlet) 13a1 of the heating pipe 13a. A thermometer 10b (also referred to as a second thermometer 10b) is installed at the outlet (fluid outlet) 13a2 of 13a.

Further, in the hot water line 31, the third thermometer 10c is installed at the inlet (medium inlet) 31a of the second stage heating unit 13, and the outlet (medium outlet) of the second stage heating unit 13 in the cooling water line 32. A fourth thermometer 10d is installed at 32a.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

First, a beverage is prepared in the preparation device 1 and sent from the balance tank 5 to the heat sterilization device (UHT) 18, where the drink is subjected to heat sterilization treatment.

The beverage that has been heat-sterilized by the heat-sterilizer 18 is then stored in the surge tank 19 and then sent to the head tank 11. Next, the beverage in the head tank 11 is supplied to the filler 2, passes through the filling nozzle 2a in the filler 2 and is aseptically filled in the bottle b. Next, the bottle b filled with the beverage is discharged outward from the filler 2.

Next, the operation of UHT18 will be described in detail below.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the beverage supplied from the balance tank 5 is sent to the first stage heating unit 12 and the second stage heating unit 13 of the UHT 18, and the first stage heating unit 12 and the second stage heating unit 13 are supplied. At, for example, a beverage at room temperature (20 ° C) is heated to, for example, 130 ° C. Thus, while the beverage is heated from 20 ° C. to 130 ° C., the heat sterilization treatment is performed on the beverage.

Next, the beverage heated in the first stage heating unit 12 and the second stage heating unit 13 is kept or heated in the holding tube 14 to a target temperature, for example, 130 ° C. by a heating mechanism (not shown).

Next, the beverage from the holding tube 14 is cooled in the first stage cooling unit 15, and the temperature thereof drops from 130 ° C to 100 ° C, for example.

The beverage further cooled by the first-stage cooling unit 15 is further cooled by the second-stage cooling unit 16 and the third-stage cooling unit 17, and its temperature drops from 100 ° C to 30 ° C, for example.

Next, the beverage cooled by the third stage cooling unit 17 is sent to the surge tank 19 via the manifold valve 8.

During this time, as shown in FIG. 3, hot water (hot water) flowing through the hot water line 31 is supplied into the second-stage heating unit 13, and the beverage is heated in the second-stage heating unit 13. The hot water that heats the beverage in the second stage heating unit 13 then becomes cooling water and flows through the cooling water line 32. Next, the cooling water in the cooling water line 32 is supplied to the first stage cooling unit 15, and the high temperature beverage is cooled in the first stage cooling unit 15. The temperature of the cooling water in the first-stage cooling unit 15 rises to become high-temperature water (hot water) and enters the hot water line 31.

Next, heating steam is supplied from the heating steam supply unit 33 to the hot water flowing in the hot water line 31, and the temperature of the hot water rises.

Since the circulation line 30 including the hot water line 31 and the cooling water line 32 shown in FIG. 3 is a closed line that is sealed from the outside, the hot water and the cooling water flowing in the circulation line 30 are kept in a sterile state. Is dripping

After completing the aseptic filling operation for the bottle b as described above, perform the CIP cleaning operation for the UHT18.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, after the contents in the UHT 18 are discharged to the outside, a cleaning liquid and a rinse liquid are sequentially supplied into the balance tank 5, the balance tank 5, the UHT 18, and the balance tank 5 and the UHT 18 The inside of the UHT 18 is cleaned using the fluid circulation line 18A including the upstream side pipe portion 7a connected to the balance tank 5 and the return line 6 connecting the balance tank 5 and the UHT 18.

Generally, CIP cleaning is performed by adding an alkaline chemical prepared by mixing caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium phosphate, sodium hypochlorite, a surfactant and a chelating agent into water. This is performed by flowing an alkaline cleaning liquid into the UHT 18, and then flowing an acidic cleaning liquid obtained by adding a nitric acid-based or phosphoric acid-based acidic chemical to water supplied from a cleaning liquid supply source (not shown) into the UHT 18. In addition, in the CIP cleaning, the alkaline cleaning solution or the acidic cleaning solution is not limited to be flowed in the above-described order. For example, the alkaline cleaning solution may be flowed after the acidic cleaning solution is flown, or only the acidic cleaning solution or the alkaline cleaning solution, or Cleaning may be performed by flowing only hot water. In this case, the alkaline cleaning liquid, the acidic cleaning liquid, and the hot water constitute the cleaning liquid.

Specifically, first, an alkaline cleaning liquid such as caustic soda is supplied into the balance tank 5, the pressurizing pump 48 is operated, and the alkaline cleaning liquid is supplied to the balance tank 5, the UHT 18, the upstream pipe portion 7a, and the return line 6. Flow into the fluid circulation line 18A. Then, after discharging the alkaline cleaning liquid from the fluid circulation line 18A, the rinse liquid (water) is supplied into the balance tank 5, and the rinse liquid is supplied to the balance tank 5, the UHT 18, the upstream pipe portion 7a, and the return line 6. And flow into the fluid circulation line 18A. Then, the rinse liquid is discharged from the liquid circulation line 18A.

After that, in the same manner as above, an acidic cleaning liquid such as nitric acid or phosphoric acid is flown into the fluid circulation line 18A. After that, the acidic cleaning liquid is discharged from the fluid circulation line 18A, the rinse liquid is flown into the fluid circulation line 18A, and then the rinse liquid is discharged from the liquid circulation line 18A.

In this way, UHT18 can be subjected to CIP cleaning. ‥

In this way, the alkaline cleaning liquid, the acidic cleaning liquid, and the rinse liquid are sequentially supplied into the balance tank 5 of the UHT 18, and the pressurizing pump 48 is operated, whereby the balance tank 5, the UHT 18, and the upstream pipe portion 7a are connected. , CIP cleaning can be performed by supplying these fluids into the fluid circulation line 18A consisting of the return line 6 and the return line 6. In this case, the pressurizing pump 48 functions as a fluid supply unit.

During this time, the CIP cleaning is controlled by the control unit 40.

That is, the control unit 40 operates the pressurizing pump 48 to sequentially flow the alkaline cleaning liquid, the acidic cleaning liquid, and the rinse liquid described above to the fluid circulation line 18A, and the second stage heating in the UHT 18, particularly in the UHT 18, where the inside is easily contaminated. The inside of the heating pipe 13a of the part 13 is washed. Here, the heating pipe 13a of the second-stage heating unit 13 is a portion for heating and sterilizing the contents at a high temperature, and stains such as burns are likely to occur on the inner surface of the heating pipe 13a.

In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heating pipe 13a of the second-stage heating unit 13, which is easily contaminated, is monitored, and CIP cleaning is efficiently performed to clean the inside of the UHT 18.

Next, the CIP cleaning method by the control unit 40 will be described below.

The control unit 40 stores a variety of data in a storage unit 41, a monitoring unit 42 that obtains an overall heat transfer coefficient of the heating pipe 13a of the second stage heating unit 13, and an overall heat transfer coefficient that is obtained by the monitoring unit 42 has a desired value. It is determined whether or not it has exceeded, and when the overall heat transfer coefficient exceeds the desired value, it is determined that the cleaning inside the UHT 18 has been completed, and the cleaning inside the UHT 18 is terminated. Next, the cleaning liquid supply process is shifted to the rinse liquid supply process or the beverage manufacturing process, or the pressurizing pump 48 is stopped (see FIG. 8). The overall heat transfer coefficient obtained by the monitoring unit 42 is stored in the storage unit 41. Further, the control unit 40 includes a cleaning condition determination unit 44 that obtains an optimum cleaning condition in the UHT 18 at the time of CIP cleaning using the overall heat transfer coefficient stored in the storage unit 41. As the optimum cleaning conditions (CIP conditions) of UHT18, the cleaning time of alkaline cleaning liquid, rinse liquid, acidic cleaning liquid, rinse liquid, etc. for beverages as various product liquids and stains such as scorching due to manufacturing time Optimal cleaning conditions including concentration, type of cleaning liquid, flow rate of cleaning liquid, supply pattern, number of repetitions of supply cycle, etc. can be considered.

Next, the operation of the control unit 40 having such a configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 40 first operates the pressurizing pump 48 as described above to sequentially supply the alkaline cleaning liquid, the acidic cleaning liquid, and the rinse liquid to the balance tank 5, the UHT 18, and the upstream pipe portion 7a. Then, the fluid is circulated by being supplied into the fluid circulation line 18A including the return line 6. During this time, the control unit 40 operates the hot water line (heating unit) 31 to heat the heating pipe 13a of the second stage heating unit 13. At the same time, the control unit 40 activates the cooling water line 32.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the second-stage heating unit 13 is heated by the hot water line 31, and the hot water in the hot water line 31 is further heated by the heating steam supplied from the heating steam supply unit 33. To be done.

As a result, the temperature of the inlet (fluid inlet) 13a1 of the heating pipe 13a of the second stage heating unit 13 is 89 ° C. measured by the thermometer 10a, and the temperature of the outlet (fluid outlet) 13a2 of the heating pipe 13a is measured by the thermometer. Measured at 10b (120 ° C). At the same time, the temperature of the inlet 15a1 of the cooling pipe 15a of the first cooling unit 15 is measured by the thermometer 10 (118 ° C), and the temperature of the outlet 15a2 of the cooling pipe 15a is measured by the thermometer 10 (97 ° C).

On the other hand, the temperature of the inlet (medium inlet) 31a of the second stage heating unit 13 of the hot water line 31 is measured by the thermometer 10c (130 ° C.), and the outlet (medium outlet) of the second stage heating unit 12 of the cooling water line 32. The temperature of 32a is measured with a thermometer 10d (90 ° C.).

At the same time, the temperature of the inlet 32b of the first stage cooling unit 15 of the cooling water line 32 is 90 ° C, and the temperature of the outlet 31b of the first stage cooling unit 15 of the hot water line 31 is 118 ° C.

The control unit 40 determines the overall heat transfer coefficient (U value) of the heating pipe 13a of the second stage heating unit 13 from the temperatures of the

thermometers

10a, 10b, 10c, 10d measured by the

thermometers

10a, 10b, 10c, 10d. ).

Specifically, the temperature T1 and the temperature T2 of the fluid composed of the alkaline cleaning liquid, the acidic cleaning liquid, or the rinse liquid at the inlet (fluid inlet) 13a1 and the outlet (fluid outlet) 13a2 of the heating pipe 13a of the second stage heating unit 13 are the temperature. It is calculated by a total of 10a and 10b.

Further, the temperatures T3 and T4 of hot water (medium) at the inlet (medium inlet) 31a and the outlet (medium outlet) 32a of the second stage heating unit 13 are obtained by the

thermometers

10c and 10d.

At the same time, the flow rate 9 of the fluid circulating through the fluid circulation line 18A including the balance tank 5, the UHT 18, the upstream pipe portion 7a, and the return line 6 is obtained by the flow meter 9.

The monitoring unit 42 of the control unit 40 first obtains the logarithmic average temperature difference ΔT in the second heating unit 13 based on the temperatures T1, T2, T3, and T4.

Specifically, the logarithmic average temperature difference ΔT is obtained as follows.

Next, the heat quantity Q in the second stage heating unit 13 is obtained from the temperature T1, the temperature T2, and the flow rate R (L / h). However, when the specific heat is 1 (kcal / kg · ° C.) and the specific weight is 1 (kg / L), Q = 1 × 1 × R × (T2-T1) (Equation 2)

Further, the heat transfer area A (m ² ) of the heating pipe 13a of the second stage heating unit 13 is predetermined.

From the above, the monitoring unit 42 calculates the overall heat transfer coefficient (U value) of the second stage heating unit 13 by U = Q / (A × ΔT) (formula 3).

The U value of the second stage heating unit 13 decreases as the contents are heated using the UHT 18, but this U value gradually rises by performing CIP cleaning on the UHT 18. Then, when the U value reaches a desired value, the CIP cleaning can be ended.

In the present embodiment, the monitoring unit 42 of the control unit 40 obtains the U value of the second heating unit 13 and monitors this U value. When the U value monitored by the monitoring unit 42 reaches a desired value, the process proceeds to the next step, or the stop unit 43 of the control unit 40 stops the pressurizing pump 48, and the control unit 40 At the same time, the operations of the hot water line 31 and the cooling water line 32 are stopped.

The U value monitored by the monitoring unit 42 is stored in the storage unit 41. The fluid supply pattern determination unit 44 of the control unit 40 determines the optimum fluid supply pattern in the CIP cleaning based on the U value stored in the storage unit 41.

In the present embodiment, in the CIP cleaning, an alkaline cleaning solution, a rinse solution, an acidic cleaning solution, and a rinse solution having a predetermined concentration are supplied to the fluid circulation line 18A for a predetermined time, respectively, and the alkaline cleaning solution, the rinse solution, and the acidic cleaning solution are supplied. The rinse liquid supply cycle is repeated.

According to the present embodiment, by monitoring the U value in the second heating section 13, it is possible to remove stains such as charring due to various products and manufacturing time from each of the alkaline cleaning liquid, the rinse liquid, the acidic cleaning liquid, and the rinse liquid. The optimum cleaning conditions (CIP conditions) including the cleaning time, the concentration of the cleaning liquid, the type of cleaning liquid, the flow rate of the cleaning liquid, the supply pattern, the number of repetitions of the supply cycle, etc. can be determined.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the U value of the second-stage heating unit 13 is obtained during CIP cleaning, this U value is monitored, and when the U value reaches the desired value, the CIP cleaning is stopped. , It is possible to move to the next step. Therefore, it is not necessary to continue the CIP cleaning more than necessary, and the CIP cleaning can be efficiently performed.

Furthermore, since the U value of the second-stage heating unit 13 is obtained while heating the second-stage heating unit 13, it is possible to provide an appropriate temperature difference between the fluid temperatures T1 and T2 at the fluid inlet 13a1 and the fluid outlet 13a2. Therefore, the U value of the second heating section 13 can be reliably obtained using the above equation (1). Generally, when performing CIP cleaning, the second stage heating unit 13 is not particularly heated, and the first to third stage cooling units 15 to 17 are not particularly cooled. In this case, the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid flows at a constant temperature in the first and second heating units 12.13 and the first to third cooling units 15 to 17 of the fluid circulation line 18. In particular, since there is no temperature difference between the inlet 13a1 and the outlet 13a2 of the heating pipe 13 of the second heating unit 13, the U value of the second heating unit 13 cannot be obtained by the above method. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the U value of the second heating unit 12 can be easily and reliably obtained as described above.

Hereinafter, specific examples of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

First, FIG. 4 shows the U value in the second stage heating unit 13 when the bottle b filled with the contents is produced using the aseptic filling system.

In FIG. 4, when milk coffee is used as the content, the U value in the second stage heating unit 13 gradually decreases.

In this embodiment, the UHT 18 is subjected to CIP cleaning after using the aseptic filling system using milk coffee (see FIG. 5). In this case, the supply of the alkaline cleaning liquid, the supply of the rinse liquid, the supply of the acidic cleaning liquid, and the supply of the rinse liquid are repeated during the CIP cleaning. As a result, the U value of the second-stage heating unit 13 is gradually increased by performing CIP cleaning even when a product such as milk coffee that is easily scorched and dirty in the pipe during heating is used as the content. I know I'm going.

In this embodiment, when the U value reaches the desired value, the CIP cleaning for the UHT 18 is stopped.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, according to the present embodiment, the inside of the UHT 18 can be reliably cleaned by performing the CIP cleaning for an appropriate time without performing the CIP cleaning for an unnecessarily long time. it can.

Next, FIG. 6 shows the U value when the bottle b filled with the contents is produced using the aseptic filling system.

In FIG. 6, when black coffee is used as the content, the U value in the second stage heating unit 13 gradually decreases.

In the present embodiment, the UHT 18 is subjected to CIP cleaning after using the aseptic filling system using black coffee. In this case, during CIP cleaning, the supply of the alkaline cleaning liquid, the supply of the rinse liquid, the supply of the acidic cleaning liquid, and the supply of the rinse liquid are repeated. As a result, even if a product such as black coffee that is easily burnt and dirty inside the pipe during heating is used as the contents, by performing CIP cleaning, the U value of the second-stage heating unit 13 can be reduced to the value before dropping. Can be returned.

In this embodiment, when the U value reaches the desired value, the CIP cleaning for the UHT 18 is stopped. Next, after the CIP cleaning, after a predetermined time, black coffee is used as the content, and the black coffee is aseptically filled in the bottle b using the aseptic filling system.

Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the inside of the UHT 18 can be reliably cleaned by performing CIP cleaning for an appropriate time without performing CIP cleaning for an unnecessarily long time.

Although the flow of the heating medium and the cooling medium between the second heating unit 13 and the first cooling unit 15 has been described in the above embodiment (see FIG. 3), the first and

second heating units

12, 13 and the first, Similarly, a heating medium and a cooling medium may be allowed to flow between the two or three cooling

units

15, 16 and 17, and the heat sterilization device 18 may have a shell and tube heat exchanger, and may be a plate type. It may have a heat exchanger. The filler 2 is not limited to the aseptic filling machine, and may have any structure as long as it can heat and sterilize beverages including hot packs and chilled beverages.

1A Aseptic filling system 1 Mixing device 2 Filler 2a Filling nozzle 3 Aseptic chamber 3a Atomizer
5 Balance Tank 6 Return Line 7 Beverage Supply System Piping 7a Upstream Piping 7b Downstream Piping 7c Connection Piping 10 Thermometer 10a 1st Thermometer 10b 2nd Thermometer 10c 3rd Thermometer 10d 4th Thermometer 11 Head Tank 12 1st stage heating part 13 2nd stage heating part 14 Holding tube
15 1st stage cooling unit
16 Second Stage Cooling Unit 17 Third Stage Cooling Unit 18 Heat Sterilizer (UHT)
18A Fluid circulation line 30 Circulation line 31 Hot water line 32 Cooling water line 33 Heating steam supply part 35 Pressurizing pump 37 Hot water line 38 Cooling water line 39 Cooling water line 40 Control part 41 Storage part
42 Monitoring unit 43 Stopping unit 44 Fluid supply pattern determining unit 48 Pressurizing pump

Claims

A method of cleaning a heat sterilization system having a heating section having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the heating section having a heating section for heating contents, comprising:
In the heat sterilization system, a step of flowing a fluid containing at least a cleaning liquid to wash the inside of the heat sterilization system,
Heating the heating pipe of the heating section from the outside with a medium;
Measuring the fluid temperature of the fluid at the fluid inlet and fluid outlet of the heating pipe;
Measuring the medium temperature of the medium at the medium inlet and medium outlet of the heating section;
Determining and monitoring an overall heat transfer coefficient of the heating pipe based on a fluid temperature of a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the heating pipe and a medium temperature of a medium inlet and a medium outlet of the heating section. Cleaning method for heat sterilization system.
The method for cleaning a heat sterilization system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning in the heat sterilization system is terminated when the overall heat transfer coefficient exceeds a desired value.
The method for cleaning a heat sterilization system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein cleaning conditions for the heat sterilization system are determined based on the overall heat transfer coefficient.
The method for cleaning a heat sterilization system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the heating sections are arranged and the overall heat transfer coefficient in the heating pipe of the most downstream heating section is monitored.
In a cleaning device of a heat sterilization system having a heating section having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the heating section heating a content,
In the heat sterilization system, a fluid supply unit for flowing a fluid containing at least a cleaning liquid to wash the inside of the heat sterilization system,
A heating unit for heating the heating pipe of the heating section from the outside with a medium;
A thermometer for measuring the fluid temperature of the fluid at the fluid inlet and fluid outlet of the heating section and the medium temperature of the medium at the medium inlet and medium outlet of the heating pipe;
Equipped with a control unit,
The controller monitors the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heating pipe based on the fluid temperature of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the heating pipe and the medium temperature of the medium inlet and the medium outlet of the heating section. Device for heat sterilization system having a part.
The cleaning device for a heat sterilization system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit ends the cleaning in the heat sterilization system when the overall heat transfer coefficient exceeds a desired value.
The cleaning device for a heat sterilization system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit has a cleaning condition determination unit that determines a cleaning condition for the heat sterilization system based on the overall heat transfer coefficient.
The cleaning device for a heat sterilization system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a plurality of the heating sections are arranged, and the control unit monitors the overall heat transfer coefficient in the heating pipe of the most downstream heating section.